A couple of teams that like to run the football, Head Coach Kevin Sumlin and the Arizona Wildcats (+27) are gearing up to pay a visit to their conference counterpart No. 6 Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. ESPN has the TV rights and kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Arizona Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks
Oregon is heavily favored in this matchup and is currently giving up 27 points to Arizona. If the Ducks get behind early on it will create a solid betting scenario in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 67.5 points.
This game’s line opened at -26. The over/under has yet to move since being set initially at 67.5.
The disappointing Wildcats are 2-7 against the spread (ATS) and are down 5.6 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 6-3.
The Ducks are up 3.0 units this season. The team is 5-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-5.
The Wildcats have gone 4-5 straight up (SU), including 2-4 SU against conference opponents. The Ducks are 8-1 SU overall and 6-0 SU in conference play.
Arizona enters this one on an eight-game winning streak while Oregon has dropped each of its last four. The Wildcats fell to Oregon State 56-38 in a blowout where the Wildcats completed 26-of-41 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns. Grant Gunnell went 19-for-29 for 269 yards and two touchdowns while Khalil Tate completed seven-of-12 for 109 yards. J.J. Taylor (78 yards on 21 rush attempts, two TDs) and Gary Brightwell (54 yards on 10 carries, one TD) provided the running attack in the loss while Taylor (seven receptions, 89 yards) and Jamarye Joiner (three catches, 51 yards) shared the receiving duties.
The Oregon Ducks take the field this week following a lopsided 56-24 win over USC. The defensive secondary allowed the Trojans to air it out for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Kenan Christon had a productive showing in the loss, recording 79 rushing yards on 15 attempts for USC. For Oregon, Justin Herbert completed 21-of-26 passes for 225 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Travis Dye (75 rushing yards on 12 attempts) and Darrian Felix (43 yards on 10 carries) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Juwan Johnson (seven receptions, 106 yards, three TDs) and Jaylon Redd (four catches, 31 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Each team has a similar (52-48) run-pass ratio on the season. The Wildcats have run for 196 yards per game (including 140.2 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 18 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Ducks are averaging 184.4 rushing yards per game (183.7 in conference) and have 16 total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then it appears the Ducks ought to own the edge when it comes to applying pressure. Their offensive line has given up only 15 sacks while their D-line has logged 26 sacks. The Wildcats O-line has given up 25 sacks and their defense has created only 10 sacks.
The Wildcats offense has averaged 299.8 yards in the air overall (310.5 per game against conference opposition) and has 21 passing TDs so far. The Ducks have put up 274.8 pass yards per outing (253 against Pac-12 competition) and have 27 total pass scores.
Defensively, Arizona has let opponents rush for an average of 167.8 yards and pass for 313.4 yards per game. The Oregon defense has given up 213.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 100.1 yards per game on the ground. The Ducks are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.42 to opponents, while the Wildcats have given up a 7.55 ANY/A.
Herbert has managed to complete 179-of-258 passes for 2,107 yards, 24 TDs and two INTs. Herbert’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 8.98 for the year and 6.87 over his last two games. In the other huddle, Gunnell has put up 993 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 76-of-118 attempts with eight passing touchdowns and only one interception. Gunnell’s got an 8.71 ANY/A, including 9.22 over the last two outings.
These two schools met last year with the final outcome being a 44-15 win for Arizona.
Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks Betting Pick
SU Winner: Oregon, ATS Winner: Arizona, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The O/U for Arizona’s last game was 71.5. The over cashed in the team’s 56-38 loss to Oregon State.
- Arizona has produced 4.2 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.4 over its last two.
- Oregon has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.5 over its last two.
- Oregon has lost four fumbles this season while Arizona has let six get away.
- Over its last three games, Arizona is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Oregon’s previous matchup going into it was 60. The over cashed in the 56-24 triumph over USC.
- In its last three contests, Oregon is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The Wildcats offense has created 12 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Ducks have accounted for two such plays.
- The Arizona defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Oregon has given up two such plays.
- The Arizona offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Oregon has created 12 such runs.
- The Wildcats defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Ducks have given up six such runs.
- The Oregon defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 26 times this season. Arizona has recorded just 10 sacks.
